Saturday, December 6, 2014

LOUISVILLE, Kent. - Simon Fraser finished seventh for the second year in a row and Katelyn Steen of Western Washington placed fifth in the NCAA Division II National Cross Country Championships Saturday at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer Park.

The Clan had the best finish by a West Region team as Jennifer Johnson led the way placing 30th in a  time of 21:57.1 to earn All-American honors.

Steen recorded a time of 21:20.8 on the course which was shortened to 5,780 meters due to heavy rain in the Louisville area over the previous 24 hours. The only athletes to cross the finish line ahead of the WWU senior were individual champion Kendra Foley of Grand Valley State, two of her teammates and a runner from Bellarmine.

Foley was clocked in a time of 21:05.8.  GV's Allyson Winchester and Jessica Janecke recorded times of 21:11.5 and 21:47.7 and Bellarmine's Emily Firth covered the course in a time of 21:16.7.

With the top three finishers Grand Valley State cruised to the team title with a low score of 50 points, well-ahead of second place Hillsdale which had a score of 115.

Simon Fraser posted a score of 225, 55 points ahead of eighth-place Alaska Anchorage, which earned its seventh straight Top 10 national finish. Western Washington finished 12th with 352 points and Central Washington, making its first national meet appearance since 2000, ended up 18th with a team score of 461.

Steen and Johnson were among four GNAC athletes to finish in the Top 40 and earned All-American honors.

Alaska Anchorage's Amy Johnston, who placed 49th in last year's national meet for Metro State (Colo.), placed 17th in a time of 21:39.9, while Connie Morgan of Central Washington claimed 28th place in a time of 21:55.4.

Both Steen and Morgan earned All-American honors for the second year in a row.  A year ago in Spokane, Morgan placed 33rd and Steen finished 34th.

NCAA Women’s National Cross Country (Dec. 6 at Louisville): Team Scores – 1. Grand Valley State 50, 2. Hillsdale 115, 3. Minnesota Duluth 118, 4. Adams State 125, 5. Augustana (S.D.) 206, 6. Wayne State 219, 7. Simon Fraser 225, 8. Alaska Anchorage 280, 9. Roberts Wesleyan 295, 10. Colorado Mines 342 (12. Western Washington 352, 18. Central Washington 461).  Individuals (Winner and GNAC All-Americans; 5,780 Meters) – 1. Kendra Foley, Grand Valley State, 21:05.8; 5. Katelyn Steen, WWU, 21:20.8; 17. Amy Johnston, UAA, 21:39.9; 28. Connie Morgan, CWU, 21:55.4; 30. Jennifer Johnson, SFU, 21:57.1.

Other GNAC Finishers – 42. Dani Eggleston, CWU, 22:06.9; 43. Rebecca Bassett, SFU, 22:07.6; 46. Caroline Kurgat, UAA, 22:12.0; 51. Taylor Guenther, WWU, 22:16.4; 56. Kansas Mackenzie, SFU, 22:22.5; 60. Peggy Noel, SFU, 22:29.9; 72. Bryn Haebe, UAA, 22:38.4; 79. Beatrice Decker, UAA, 22:42.1; 83. Miryam Bassett, SFU, 22:42.8; 89. Megan Rogers, CWU, 22:45.7; 98. Haley O’Connor, WWU, 22:47.6; 121. Jessica Pahkala, UAA, 23:05.6; 126. Austen Reiter, WWU, 23:09.4; 140.Mikhaila Thornton, WWU, 23:19.6; 145. Mariah Burroughs, UAA, 23:20.7; 147. Emma Chadsey, SFU, 23:21.7; 155. Brittany Evans, SFU,  23:29.1;  177. Hannah Dowdell, CWU, 23:40.5; 190. Tamara Perez, UAA, 23:52.4; 203. Erin Chinchar, CWU, 24:11.7; 204. Jayna Inderbitzin, CWU, 24:13.0; 216. Brittany Grant, WWU, 24:27.9; 221. Sofia Marikis, WWU, 24:38.7; 231. Brenna Eldredge, CWU, 25:08.7.